"It was meant to happen this way," says Shaun Wright-Phillips, on one of the open-top buses about to embark on its journey around Manchester in the middle of a thunderstorm.
He was talking about Manchester City's treble win and Champions League success, but could easily have been referring to the very-Mancunian way that Monday's trophy parade unfolded. Moments after Wright-Phillips reflected on an 'extraordinary' weekend of celebrations, the heavens opened, and wouldn't close until the parade was done and the fireworks had gone off in St Peter's Square. Still, the party continued despite the relentless downpour.
Wright-Phillips was in Istanbul to see City end their search for a Champions League title thanks to Rodri's winner, completing a historic treble and adding another major trophy to the collection. He joined the team celebrations on the pitch, chatting with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, and attended the squad's after-party at the team hotel.
